Life is Beautiful

Life is Beautiful ‫החיים יפים‬

rosenbach c o n t e m p o r a r y

Sunday - Thursday 11 am - 7 pm Friday 10 am - 1 pm other hours by appointment 10 King David St., Jerusalem +972-507-516091 uri@rosenbach.co.il www,rosenbach.co.il

Front cover: Miriam Barzesky, Untitled (detail) Front inside cover: Joshua Kamien, Magestic moment Š all rights reserved Rosenbach Contemporary

‫בס”ד‬

Life is Beautiful ‫החיים יפים‬

1 - 11 November 2018 Miriam Barzesky Sara Benninga Joshua Kamien Yael Oren Rona Perlman Masha Potapenkov Polly Tessler

Life is Beautiful Dror Shiram and Sara Benninga

Our lives are filled with beautiful moments, moments when we pause, look around, and discover something new. Or perhaps we are simply satisfied with what is.

These moments, rare as they may be, guide us through periods of difficulty and sadness, longing and discomfort. Art opens a window to the beauty and uniqueness of our world, to the moments, shades of color, the evolving and the ever-changing.

Landscapes, textures, shadows and splashes of color manage to touch us, allow us to disconnect from the mundane, to see and especially to feel the complexity and power of life.

The beauty of life is depicted in a variety of forms. Each artist has a unique method of self-expression, and each relates differently to beauty, emotion, and creativity, but what is special about art in general and painting in particular is the capability of the artist to inspire us with excitement and curiosity, admiration and relaxation. The world is infinitely rich in the beauty of creation, but each individual’s personal world does not always allow for freedom to appreciate one’s surroundings.

The phrase “life is beautiful” raises varied associations and interpretations.

Throughout the history of Western art were periods when “beautiful life” was an artistic subject. For example, the end of the 19th century until the outbreak of the First World War, the European Golden Age, La Belle Époque, a period that earned its name due to the technological progress and economic prosperity.

Paris, the city of Western pleasures, was a center of recreation, drinking, dancing and cafes. Through art of the Impressionists Sara Benninga, Untitled we discover many paintings dealing with these subjects, they present the bourgeois life on its most beautiful sides: dances, social gatherings, smoking and drinking.

On the other hand, “beautiful life” also has a stylistic aspect. Artists from the Fauvist movement, such as Matisse, expressed the joy of life by means of intense and wild colors, and the use of fields of colors. Art Nouveau artists

were often inspired by nature as transformed into decorative elements. These objects were in turn integrated into graphic, organic works. Beautiful life is expressed in diverse and unique ways.

So what is the beauty of life as portrayed in the works comprising this exhibition?

The exhibition features artists with distinct and unique styles.

Some search for the beauty of life in the repetition of the pattern, organic or geometric, and in a repetitive rhythm of dynamic motion.

Others deal with subjects such as the social encounter, the colorful expression, or the dissolution of familiar images.

Common to all is the search to create a break in time, to observe and to reflect; the capability to pause for a moment amidst the perpetual motion of today’s world and to contemplate. Perhaps from the cacophony will emerge the understanding that life is (also) beautiful.

‫צבעוניות עזה ופרועה‪ ,‬והדגשת‬ ‫עולם משלו‪ ,‬שלא תמיד משאיר‬ ‫הכתמיות הציורית‪ .‬אמני הארט‪-‬‬ ‫לו זמן להסתכל סביב‪.‬‬ ‫צמד המילים ״החיים יפים״ מעלה נובו שאבו השראה ממאפיינים‬ ‫אצל כל אחת ואחד אסוציאציות צמחיים‪ ,‬אשר אותם הסבו‬ ‫לאלמנטים עיטוריים‪ ,‬שהפכו‬ ‫ופרשנויות שונות‪.‬‬ ‫את האובייקטים שבהם שולבו‬ ‫בתולדות האמנות המערבית היו‬ ‫ליצירות גרפיות‪-‬אורגניות‪ .‬החיים‬ ‫תקופות שבהם ״החיים היפים״‬ ‫היפים מקבלים ביטויים שונים‬ ‫היוו את הנושא האמנותי‪ .‬למשל‪ ,‬ומגוונים‪ ,‬ייחודיים‪.‬‬ ‫סוף המאה ה‪19‬‬ ‫אז מהם אותם חיים‬ ‫עד פרוץ מלחמת‬ ‫יפים בתערוכה‬ ‫העולם הראשונה‪,‬‬ ‫שמוצגת כעת?‬ ‫תור הזהב‬ ‫בתערוכה משתתפים‬ ‫האירופי‪La Belle ,‬‬ ‫אמנים בעלי סגנונות‬ ‫‪ ,Epoque‬תקופה‬ ‫נבדלים וייחודיים‪.‬‬ ‫שזכתה לשם זה‬ ‫חלקם מחפשים‬ ‫בזכות הקידמה‬ ‫את יופי החיים‬ ‫הטכנולוגית‬ ‫בחזרתיות של‬ ‫והשגשוג הכלכלי‪.‬‬ ‫‪Yael Oren, Untitled‬‬ ‫הדוגמא (‪,)pattern‬‬ ‫פריז‪ ,‬עיר ההנאות‬ ‫אורגנית או גיאומטרית‪ ,‬ובמקצב‬ ‫המערבית‪ ,‬הייתה מרכז של‬ ‫בילוי‪ ,‬שתיה‪ ,‬ריקודים ובתי קפה‪ .‬חוזר של תנועה דינמית‪ .‬אחרים‬ ‫עוסקים בנושאים כגון המפגש‬ ‫באמנות האימפרסיוניסטית של‬ ‫החברתי‪ ,‬בהבעה צבעונית‪ ,‬או‬ ‫הזמן אנו מוצאים ציורים רבים‬ ‫בפירוק של דימויים מוכרים‪.‬‬ ‫בנושאים אלו‪ ,‬המציגים את‬ ‫החיים הבורגניים על צדדיהם‬ ‫אך כולם מבקשים ליצור פסק זמן‬ ‫היפים ביותר‪ :‬ריקודים‪ ,‬מפגשים‬ ‫של התבוננות והרהור‪ ,‬אפשרות‬ ‫חברתיים‪ ,‬עישון ושתיה‪.‬‬ ‫להשהות לרגע את הפעילות‬ ‫מצד שני ישנו גם היבט סגנוני‬ ‫לחיים היפים‪ .‬אמנים מהזרם‬ ‫הפוביסטי‪ ,‬כגון מאטיס‪ ,‬הביעו‬ ‫את חדוות החיים באמצעות‬

‫הבלתי פוסקת ולהתבונן‪ .‬אולי‬ ‫מבעד לקקופוניה תגיח ההבנה‬ ‫שהחיים (גם) יפים‪.‬‬

‫החיים יפים‬ ‫דרור שירם‬ ‫שרה בנינגה‬

‫בחיינו ישנם רגעים יפים‪ ,‬רגעים‬ ‫בהם אנחנו עוצרים ממעש‪,‬‬ ‫מביטים סביב‪ ,‬מגלים דבר מה‬ ‫חדש‪ ,‬או פשוט מרוצים ממה שיש‪.‬‬ ‫רגעים אלה‪ ,‬נדירים ככל שיהיו‬ ‫עוזרים לנו לצלוח תקופות של‬ ‫קושי ועצב‪ ,‬געגוע וחוסר נחת‪.‬‬ ‫האומנות פותחת לנו צוהר ליפה‬ ‫ולמיוחד שבעולמנו‪ ,‬לרגעים‪,‬‬ ‫לצבעים‪ ,‬להתחדשות ולשינוי‪.‬‬ ‫נופים‪ ,‬מרקמים‪ ,‬צללים וכתמי‬ ‫צבע מצליחים לגעת בנו‪ ,‬לאפשר‬ ‫לנו להתנתק מהיום יום‪ ,‬לראות‬ ‫ובעיקר להרגיש את מורכבותם‬ ‫ועוצמתם של החיים‪.‬‬ ‫החיים יפים בשלל צורות‪ ,‬לכל‬ ‫אומן דרך משלו לבטא את עצמו‪,‬‬ ‫וכל אמן מתייחס בצורה שונה‬ ‫ליופי‪ ,‬לרגש‪ ,‬וליצירה‪ ,‬אבל מה‬ ‫שמיוחד בציור ובאומנות בכלל‬ ‫זה שהיא מצליחה לעורר בנו‬ ‫התרגשות וסקרנות‪ ,‬התפעלות‬ ‫ורוגע‪ ,‬וכל זאת בלי שיהיה צורך‬ ‫במילים‪ .‬העולם עשיר עד אין‬ ‫סוף ביופי הבריאה‪ ,‬אך לאדם יש‬

Miriam Barzesky​

Untitled, 2018 oil on canvas 90 x 70 cm 3,600 NIS

Miriam Barzesky​

Untitled, 2018 oil on canvas 150 x 100 cm 5,400 NIS

Miriam Barzesky​

b. 1987, Petach Tikva lives and works in Petach Tikva Education 2013-2017 BFA Bezalel School of Arts and Design 2011-2015 Studio Leonid Balaclav 2010 Studio Yossi Rosenstein 2010 Art studies, Oman Art School 2006-2010 BA Education, Ofakim College Exhibitions 2017 Graduate Exhibition, Bezalel School of Arts and Design, Curators: Ester Schneider & Sagit Mezamer 2017 “Turning Darkness to Light”, Art & Wine Gallery, Jaffa, Curator: Nurit Sirkis Bank

Untitled, 2017 oil on canvas 120 x 70 cm 3,600 NIS

Untitled, 2017 oil on canvas 80 x 70 cm .3.600 NIS

Sara Benninga​

Playing, 2011 oil on canvas 110 x 140 cm 5,400 NIS

Sara Benninga​

Untitled, 2011 oil on canvas 110 x 140 cm 5,400 NIS

Sara Benninga​

Untitled, 2017 acrylic on paper 70 x 100 cm 3,600 NIS

Untitled, 2017 acrylic on paper 100 x 70 cm 3,600 NIS

Untitled, 2012 oil on canvas 50 x 40 cm 3,600 NIS

Sara Benninga​ Education ​PhD art history, Hebrew University, Jerusalem (July 2017) MA art history, Hebrew University, Jerusalem (2009) BFA Bezalel Academy of Art and Design, Jerusalem (2012) BA art history and comparative literature, Tel Aviv University (2006) Solo Exhibitions 2017 - Trickle, New Gallery, Teddy Stadium 2012 - BFA graduation exhibition, Bezalel Academy of Art and Design Group Exhibitions 2018 - Pnina Yuchtam Prize, Ralli Museum, Caesarea 2018 - Eclectica, Koresh, Jerusalem 2017 - Man’s Man, Jerusalem Biennale, Bezeq Building 2017 - Meet the Artist, Menofim, Jerusalem 2017 - Pop up exhibition, New Gallery, Teddy Stadium 2017 - Salon Hakubia, Jerusalem 2016 - Barbur 24 hour residency, Jerusalem 2015 - Salon Hakubia, Jerusalem 2015 - Singles, Koresh, Jerusalem Awards 2016 - Printing scholarship, Jerusalem Print Workshop Work Experience Lecturer, Department of History and Theory, Bezalel Academy of Art and Design Lecturer, Department of Art History, Tel Aviv University

Untitled, 2017 acrylic on paper 50 x 70 cm 1,800 NIS

Untitled, 2011 oil on canvas 30 x 40 cm 1,800 NIS

Joshua Kamien

Sun swirl, 2018 hot glass blown sculpture 50 x 20 x 20 cm 3,600 NIS

Joshua Kamien

Sea dance hot glass blown sculpture 30 x 10 x 10 cm 3,600 NIS

Guardian Angels II, 2018 hot glass blown sculpture 45 x 15 cm 3,600 NIS

Joshua Kamien Born 1968 in USA Lives in Kerem Maharal, Works in Tel Aviv Exhibitions 2015 “Ceasarea Sea Scapes” , Pico Space, Jerusalem 2008 Ethiopian Photo Essay on Blindness, Boulder JCC, Colorado 1995-1996 Group Show, United Nations Photography Competition, New York, London, Tokyo, Israel and Nairobi 1995 Group Show, Hadassah College of Technology Artiswt Statement: In July 1999, a unique, large scale exhibition by leading glass artist Dale Chihuly opened in the Tower of David Museum. The exhibition, built specifically for the Museum on the eve of the Millennium, was the largest that Chihuly had ever produced. The artist’s monumental glass sculptures were placed throughout the Citadel.

Joshua was commissioned by Chihuly to photograph the Yellow Chandelier and subsequently was offered a position in Chihuly’s Seattle Studio. Joshua’s personal and professional connection with Chihuly was the spark that led Joshua ,18 years later, to explore the medium of glass as his self expression.

Majestic moment hot glass blown sculpture 56 x 20 x 20 cm 3,600 NIS

Yael Oren

Untitled, 2005 oil on canvas 120 x 120 cm 5,400 NIS

Yael Oren

Untitled, 2009-17, oil on canvas , 120 x 120 cm, 5,400 NIS

Untitled, 2006, oil on canvas, 120 x 120 cm, 5,400 NIS

Yael Oren

Untitled, 2011, oil on canvas, 120 x 120 cm, 5,400 NIS

Untitled, 2011, oil on canvas, 120 x 120 cm, 5,400 NIS

Yael Oren

Untitled, 2010 oil on canvas 40 x 40 cm, 1,800 NIS

Untitled, 2014 oil on canvas 40 x 40 cm 1,800 NIS

Untitled, 2009 oil on canvas 40 x 40 cm 1,800 NIS

Untitled, 2015 oil on canvas 40 x 40 cm 1,800 NIS

Untitled, 2006-15 oil on canvas 50 x 50 cm 3,600 NIS

The four elements II, 2010-16 oil on canvas 60 x 60 cm 3,600 NIS

Untitled, 2010 oil on canvas 60 x 60 cm 3,600 NIS

Yael Oren Born in 1964, Israel Lives and works in Jerusalem Education 1990-1986 B.F.A – Art and design Academy “Bezalel” Solo Exhibitions 2017 “Eat, Shatter, Collect” Beita Gallery, Jerusalem, Multidisciplinary exhibition with

Cheli Tal Shalem, poet and Omer Tal, chef 2006 “Zipping Up the Sky” Office in Tel Aviv gallery, Curator: Rachel Sukman 2001 “Candle-light in the Darkness” Office in Tel Aviv gallery, Curator: Rachel Sukman 2000 “Contemporary Art in Paster House” Paster House, Jaffa, Curators: Dafna Naor and Irit Levin 1995 Tel Aviv artist’s studios Selected Group Exhibitions 2018 “Pillar of Cloud” Hermann Struck Museum, Curators: Swetlana Reingold 2017 “Salon Hacubia 2017” The Cube, Curators: Dan Ormian and Ella Cohen Vansover 2017 “Prime Time” Central Gallery, Curators: Doron Furman 2016 “Head&Tails” Binyamin Gallery, Curators: Shlomit Liver and Sarit Achtenberg 2015 “Salon Hacubia” The Cube, Curators: Dan Ormian and Ella Cohen Vansover 2014 “Invisible Cities” The Cube, Curator: Yehudit Shlosberg-Yogev 2011 “Silent Memories” Office in Tel Aviv gallery, Curator: Rachel Sukman 2010 “Home 2: The Living Room” Apart-Art gallery, Curator: Rotem Ritov 2005 “Gallery Collection” Office in Tel Aviv gallery, Curator: Rachel Sukman 2005 “It’s as though Prosperity Never Ended” High-Touch a place for contemporary art, Curator: Dafna Naor 2004 “Art Fair” Stockholm, Pavilion’s Curator: Rachel Sukman 2003 “Passion” Office in Tel Aviv gallery, Curator: Rachel Sukman 2002 ”The Art of the country” Redding power station, Pavilion’s Curator: Rachel Sukman 2001 “Hands” The Youth wing, Israel Museum Jerusalem, Curator: Talia Tokatli and Aliza Bezalel 1999 “Look Up to the Sky” A place for contemporary art, Curator: Dafna Naor 1997 “The House in Musrara” Art center in Jerusalem, Curator: Rachel Sukman Prizes 1990 1989

Marie Fisher award for young artists Award for excellence during the academic year

Untitled, 2004-06, oil on canvas, 120 x 120 cm, 3,600 NIS

Untitled, 2005-06, oil on canvas, 120 x 120 cm, 3,600 NIS

Rona Perlman

Circles, 2018 collage 60 cm and 50 cm diameter 5,400 NIS

Rona Perlman

Untitled monotype on paper 60 x 50 cm 3,600 NIS

Rona Perlman b. 1988, Israel lives and works in Tel Aviv Education: 2009-2013 BFA, Faculty of Arts - Hamidrasha, Beit Berl Academic College, IL 2012 - 2013 PH Ludwigsburg, Germany (exchange) Solo/Duo Exhibitions: 2017 The Big Glass, duo exhibition with Mark Yashaev, curator: Tali Kayam 2014 Against the Current, Brown Gallery, Tel Aviv, curator: Yair Rothman Selected Group Exhibitions: 2017 Cats and Dogs, Israel Museum, Jerusalem Sing While You’re Burning – Restless Painting from Israel, Circle 1 Gallery, Berlin Fresh Paint Art Fair Tel-Aviv (catalog) On the Edge - Israeli Paper, MUZA Eretz Israel Museum, Tel Aviv (Catalog) 2016 The 6th Biennale for Drawing in Israel, 12 Agripas Gallery, Jerusalem (catalog) Zaher Lulu, Gate 3 Gallery, Haifa MasterPieces Art Fair, Rosenbach Gallery, Jerusalem (catalog) Artemisia Gallery, Tel Aviv 2015 Twilight Zone, Inga Gallery of Contemporary art, Tel Aviv A Brief History of Humankind, Israel Museum, Jerusalem 2014 My Africa, Romano House, a special project with Elad Kopler Jaffa Art Salon Less than a Thousand Gallery, Tel Aviv For Your Eyes Only, 141 Gallery, Haifa (catalog) 2013 121 Reasons to love art, 121 Gallery Tel Aviv BFA Show Ha’Midrasha Faculty of Arts Kino 35mm Festival, Moscow, Russia Re: visiting Rockefeller, Rockefeller Museum, Jerusalem, IL 2012 Video Theatre, MoBy: Museums of Bat Yam MessMedia Digital art fair, Sapir Center, Kfar Saba Residencies: 2015 The Artist Residence Herzliya, Israel 2014 Vermont Studio Center Residency, USA Scholarships: 2014 VSC Artist Grant 2012 Baden-Württemberg-stipendium, Germany 2012 Beit Berl Academic College 2009 Excellence Program Scholarship, Ministry of Education

Untitled monotype on paper 25 x 20 cm 1,800 NIS

Masha Potapenkov

White rose, 2018 oil on canvas 70 x 60 cm 1,800 NIS

Masha Potapenkov

Sea morning, 2018 oil on canvas 90 x 60 cm 1,800 NIS

Sea day, 2018 oil on canvas 90 x 60 cm 1,800 NIS

Sea evening, 2018 oil on canvas 90 x 60 cm 1,800 NIS

Masha Potapenkov Born in Russia, Moved to Israel in 2015. Lives and works in Jerusalem.

Education 2000 Moscow State Open Pedagogic University BFA Solo exhibitions 2003 “Color in dominance”, Central House of Artist 2003 “Fruit cocktail”, Na Philipovskom Gallery 2011 “Sea”,Royal Palace, Balchik, Bulgaria, supported by TIhoto GNEZDO Gallery 2015 “The End of The Earth”, International Arts Foundation, Moscow Select group exhibitions: 2007 “Image Capturing”, 2nd Moscow Biennale of Contemporary Art, A3 Gallery 2008 “I am loving it”, S’ART Gallery 2009 “M”, 3rd Moscow Biennale of Contemporary Art 2011 “Feminine, too much feminine”, RusArt Gallery 2011 International exhibition Russian Art Week, Contemporary Art Center “M’ars”, Moscow 2011 Project “Outdoor swimming pool named after Malevich”, IV Moscow Biennale of Contemporary Art, “Outdoor Club”, Moscow 2011 “Hydrotherapeutic procedure”, Gallery L, Moscow 2012 “I don’t give a hoot” Outdoor Club Gallery, Moscow 2012 “Single voyage”. Agency Art Ru, Moscow 2013 “Pronezhnost” RuArts Gallery, Moscow 2013 “Grey. White. Colorless” A 3 Gallery, Moscow 2014 “Nu” Central House of Artists on Krymsky Val, Moscow 2016 “Dialogue Russian -Israeli landscape” Skizze Gallery, Jerusalem 2016 “Ikebana and still life” Skizze Gallery, Jerusalem Awards and Nominations Member Union of Abstract Artists, Russia Member International Art Foundation, Russia

White rose, 2018 oil on canvas 70 x 60 cm 1,800 NIS

Polly Tessler

Moroccan wall hanging, 2018 acrylic on canvas 100 x 110 cm 3,600 NIS

Polly Tessler

Seascape, 2018 acrylic on canvas 200 x 100 cm 5,400 NIS

Moroccan wall hanging, 2017 acrylic on canvas 120 x 67 cm 1,800 NIS

Polly Tessler Born in USA Lives and works in Jerusalem Education 1992 1996 1999 2005 – 6

Bachelor of Fine Arts Parsons School of Design, NYC The Bruce Museum, Certificate in the Beginnings of Civilization Hunter College, NYC, Projects in Clay, Graduate Course Pottery Reconstruction, The Cyprus Museum Nicosia, Cyprus

Exhibitions 2004 1998 1996

1995 1994 1993

Ceramics, artist’s residence, AIR Vallauris, Vallauris, France Paintings, Organization of Independent Artists Gallery, New York Ceramics, Greenwich House Pottery School Faculty Show, New York Paintings, “Shifting Identities” CBGB’s/Crystal Quilt Gallery, New York Paintings, “Girls Dreams, Women Visions” CBGB’s Crystal Quilt Gallery, New York Paintings, “Women’s Ways of Seeing”, Crystal Quilt Gallery, New York Paintings, “Artists and Homeless Collaborative”, Henry Street Settlement, New York

Grants 2007 2000 1999 1988-92

Israel Immigration Department, Artists’ Committee Grant Full Scholarship to study Glaze Science, Greenwich House Pottery School, NYC Fulbright Grant Parsons School of Design, NYC

Archaeological Bowl , 1999 white sculpture clay, mineral oxides 30 cm diameter 1,800 NIS

Archaeological Bowl , 1999, white sculpture clay, mineral oxides 52 cm diameter, 3,600 NIS

Archaeological Bowl , 1999 white sculpture clay, mineral oxides 52 cm diameter 3,600 NIS

Archaeological Bowl , 1999 white sculpture clay, mineral oxides 52 cm diameter 3,600 NIS

Yael Oren, Untitled (detail)

‫בס”ד‬

Today’s world is overwhelmed with methods of “communication” often being impersonal and non-committal.

One of the few true methods of communication remaining is Art. In its purist form, Art is Visual Communication. Through the artist’s creation, the viewer is able to peek into the artist’s personal inner world and to discover. to relate and to often share common ideals, emotions, experiences and expressions. Every situation, may be viewed along the spectrum between positive and negative. The artist’s vision will ultimately affect the creation and as such the viewer.

Although Art is not created with the intention of being visually pleasing, the result of an artist’s quest to seek the positives often affects the aesthetics of the work. Presented in this catalog is a collection of works grouped together and entitled “Life is Beautiful”. The works speak for themselves; they allow for the viewer to interact and to uncover a new or existing positive.

The works presented are priced in multiples of Chai (life), or in its numerical equivalent 18 in order to emphasize this point.

Life is Beautiful and Art can only enhance this beauty.

Back inside cover: Polly Tessler, Moroccan wall hanging (detail) Back cover: Masha Potapenkov, White rose (detail)

rosenbach c o n t e m p o r a r y

10 King David St. Jerusalem tel +972-507-516091 uri@rosenbach.co.il www.rosenbach.co.il